Electrical connector assembly with improved shielding effect

Abstract

A connector assembly includes a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector and a shielding cage. The first electrical connector includes a first conductive housing, a first terminal module and a number of first cables. The second electrical connector includes a third conductive housing and a number of third conductive terminals. The shielding cage includes a first receiving cavity and a second receiving cavity. The first receiving cavity includes a first installation cavity for receiving the first electrical connector and a first mating cavity for receiving a first mating connector. The second receiving cavity includes a second installation cavity for receiving the second electrical connector and a second mating cavity for receiving a second mating connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector assembly, comprising:
 a first electrical connector, the first electrical connector defining a first receiving slot configured to at least partially receive a first mating connector along a first direction; the first electrical connector further comprising:
 a first conductive housing; 
 a first terminal module, the first terminal module being at least partially disposed in the first conductive housing; the first terminal module comprising a plurality of first conductive terminals which are not in contact with the first conductive housing; and 
 a plurality of first cables, the plurality of first cables being electrically connected to the plurality of first conductive terminals; 
   a second electrical connector, the second electrical connector being configured to be mounted to a circuit board; the second electrical connector defining a second receiving slot configured to at least partially receive a second mating connector along the first direction; the second electrical connector further comprising:
 a third conductive housing; and 
 a plurality of third conductive terminals, the plurality of third conductive terminals being at least partially provided in the third conductive housing; the plurality of third conductive terminals being not in contact with the third conductive housing; and 
   a shielding cage, the shielding cage being configured to be mounted on the circuit board; the shielding cage defining a first receiving cavity and a second receiving cavity which are stacked;   wherein the first receiving cavity comprises a first installation cavity and a first mating cavity communicating with the first installation cavity along the first direction; the first installation cavity is configured to at least partially receive the first electrical connector; the first mating cavity and the first receiving slot are in communication and are configured to jointly at least partially receive the first mating connector; and   wherein the second receiving cavity comprises a second installation cavity and a second mating cavity communicating with the second installation cavity along the first direction; the second installation cavity is configured to at least partially receive the second electrical connector; the second mating cavity and the second receiving slot are in communication and are configured to jointly at least partially receive the second mating connector.   
     
     
         2 . The connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical connector comprises a first module, and the first module comprises the first conductive housing, the first terminal module and the plurality of first cables;
 the first electrical connector further comprises a second module, and the second module comprises:
 a second conductive housing; and 
 a second terminal module, the second terminal module is at least partially disposed in the second conductive housing; the second terminal module comprises a plurality of second conductive terminals which are not in contact with the second conductive housing; 
   wherein the first conductive housing of the first module and the second conductive housing of the second module jointly form the first receiving slot;   the second electrical connector further comprises:
 a fourth conductive housing; and 
 a plurality of fourth conductive terminals; the plurality of fourth conductive terminals are at least partially disposed in the fourth conductive housing; the plurality of fourth conductive terminals are not in contact with the fourth conductive housing; 
   wherein the third conductive housing and the fourth conductive housing jointly form the second receiving slot.   
     
     
         3 . The connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of the first mating cavity along the first direction is greater than a length of the first receiving slot along the first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the shielding cage comprises a first wall portion, a second wall portion disposed opposite to the first wall portion, a third wall portion, a fourth wall portion disposed opposite the third wall portion, and an intermediate wall located between the first wall portion and the second wall portion; the first receiving cavity is circumferentially surrounded by the first wall portion, the third wall portion, the fourth wall portion and the intermediate wall; the second receiving cavity is circumferentially surrounded by the intermediate wall, the third wall portion, the fourth wall portion and the second wall portion; the first receiving cavity and the second receiving cavity are separated by the intermediate wall. 
     
     
         5 . The connector assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the shielding cage further comprises a plurality of grounding elastic pieces; the plurality of grounding elastic pieces comprise a first grounding elastic piece provided at a front edge of the first wall portion, a second grounding elastic piece provided at a front edge of the second wall portion, a third grounding elastic piece provided at a front edge of the third wall portion, a fourth grounding elastic piece provided at a front edge of the fourth wall portion, and a fifth grounding elastic piece provided at a front edge of the intermediate wall; and
 wherein the first grounding elastic piece is provided with a plurality of first elastic piece portions protruding into the first mating cavity; the second grounding elastic piece is provided with a plurality of second elastic piece portions protruding into the second receiving cavity; the third grounding elastic piece is provided with a plurality of third elastic piece portions protruding into the first mating cavity and a plurality of fourth elastic piece portions protruding into the second mating cavity; the fourth grounding elastic piece is provided with a plurality of fifth elastic piece portions protruding into the first mating cavity and a plurality of sixth elastic piece portions protruding into the second mating cavity; the fifth grounding elastic piece is provided with a plurality of seventh elastic piece portions protruding into the first mating cavity and a plurality of eighth elastic piece portions protruding into the second mating cavity; the plurality of first elastic piece portions, the plurality of third elastic piece portions, the plurality of fifth elastic piece portions and the plurality of seventh elastic piece portions are all configured to abut against the first mating connector; the plurality of second elastic piece portions, the plurality of fourth elastic piece portions, the plurality of sixth elastic piece portions and the plurality of eighth elastic piece portions are all configured to abut against the second mating connector.   
     
     
         6 . The connector assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the second wall portion defines a plurality of first slits and a plurality of second slits;
 the circuit board defines a plurality of first mounting holes and a plurality of second mounting holes;   the third wall portion comprises a plurality of first press-fit feet which are configured to pass through the first slits to be inserted into the first mounting holes;   the fourth wall portion comprises a plurality of second press-fit feet which are configured to pass through the second slits to be inserted into the second mounting holes.   
     
     
         7 . The connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the shielding cage is provided with a first limiting protrusion protruding into the first mating cavity, and a second limiting protrusion protruding into the second mating cavity; the first limiting protrusion is configured to restrict the first mating connector when the first mating connector is inserted into the first mating cavity; the second limiting protrusion is configured to restrict the second mating connector when the second mating connector is inserted into the second mating cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the shielding cage further comprises a retaining portion protruding into the first installation cavity; the retaining portion is configured to support the first electrical connector to retain a portion of the first electrical connector that is located in the first installation cavity in the first installation cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The connector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the shielding cage defines a plurality of heat dissipation holes communicating with the first installation cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The connector assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein each first conductive terminal comprises a first contact arm and a first tail portion; the first contact arm comprises a first contact portion;
 each second conductive terminal comprises a second contact arm and a second tail portion; the second contact arm comprises a second contact portion;   each third conductive terminal comprises a third contact arm and a first mounting foot; the third contact arm comprises a third contact portion;   each fourth conductive terminal comprises a fourth contact arm and a second mounting foot; the fourth contact arm comprises a fourth contact portion;   wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion at least partially protrude into the first receiving slot to electrically contact the first mating connector; the third contact portion and the fourth contact portion at least partially protrude into the second receiving slot to electrically contact the second mating connector; the first mounting foot and the second mounting foot are configured to be electrically connected to the circuit board.   
     
     
         11 . The connector assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the first conductive housing defines a first mounting groove; the first tail portion at least partially extends into the first mounting groove; the first cable is at least partially disposed in the first mounting groove to be connected to the first tail portion of the first conductive terminal;
 the second conductive housing defines a second mounting groove; the second tail portion at least partially extends into the second mounting groove;   the first electrical connector comprises a plurality of second cables; the second cable is at least partially disposed in the second mounting groove to be connected to the second tail portion of the second conductive terminal.   
     
     
         12 . A connector assembly, comprising:
 a first electrical connector, the first electrical connector defining a first receiving slot configured to at least partially receive a first mating connector along a first direction; the first electrical connector further comprising:
 a first conductive housing; 
 a first terminal module, the first terminal module being at least partially assembled to the first conductive housing; the first terminal module comprising a plurality of first conductive terminals which are not in contact with the first conductive housing; and 
 a plurality of first cables, the plurality of first cables being electrically connected to at least partial of the plurality of first conductive terminals; 
   a second electrical connector, the second electrical connector being configured to be mounted to a circuit board; the second electrical connector defining a second receiving slot configured to at least partially receive a second mating connector along the first direction; the second electrical connector further comprising:
 a third conductive housing; and 
 a plurality of third conductive terminals, the plurality of third conductive terminals being at least partially provided in the third conductive housing; the plurality of third conductive terminals being not in contact with the third conductive housing; and 
   a shielding cage, the shielding cage enclosing the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector; the shielding cage defining a first receiving cavity and a second receiving cavity which are stacked along a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction;   wherein the first receiving cavity comprises a first installation cavity and a first mating cavity communicating with the first installation cavity along the first direction; the first installation cavity is configured to at least partially receive the first electrical connector; the first mating cavity and the first receiving slot are in communication and are configured to jointly at least partially receive the first mating connector; and   wherein the second receiving cavity comprises a second installation cavity and a second mating cavity communicating with the second installation cavity along the first direction; the second installation cavity is configured to at least partially receive the second electrical connector; the second mating cavity and the second receiving slot are in communication and are configured to jointly at least partially receive the second mating connector.   
     
     
         13 . The connector assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the first electrical connector comprises a first module, and the first module comprises the first conductive housing, the first terminal module and the plurality of first cables;
 the first electrical connector further comprises a second module, and the second module comprises:
 a second conductive housing; and 
 a second terminal module, the second terminal module is at least partially disposed in the second conductive housing; the second terminal module comprises a plurality of second conductive terminals which are not in contact with the second conductive housing; 
   wherein the first conductive housing of the first module and the second conductive housing of the second module jointly form the first receiving slot;   the second electrical connector further comprises:
 a fourth conductive housing; and 
 a plurality of fourth conductive terminals; the plurality of fourth conductive terminals are at least partially disposed in the fourth conductive housing; the plurality of fourth conductive terminals are not in contact with the fourth conductive housing; 
   wherein the third conductive housing and the fourth conductive housing jointly form the second receiving slot.   
     
     
         14 . The connector assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein a length of the first mating cavity along the first direction is greater than a length of the first receiving slot along the first direction. 
     
     
         15 . The connector assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the shielding cage comprises a first wall portion, a second wall portion disposed opposite to the first wall portion, a third wall portion, a fourth wall portion disposed opposite the third wall portion, and an intermediate wall located between the first wall portion and the second wall portion; the first receiving cavity is circumferentially surrounded by the first wall portion, the third wall portion, the fourth wall portion and the intermediate wall; the second receiving cavity is circumferentially surrounded by the intermediate wall, the third wall portion, the fourth wall portion and the second wall portion; the first receiving cavity and the second receiving cavity are separated by the intermediate wall. 
     
     
         16 . The connector assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the shielding cage further comprises a plurality of grounding elastic pieces; the plurality of grounding elastic pieces comprise a first grounding elastic piece provided at a front edge of the first wall portion, a second grounding elastic piece provided at a front edge of the second wall portion, a third grounding elastic piece provided at a front edge of the third wall portion, a fourth grounding elastic piece provided at a front edge of the fourth wall portion, and a fifth grounding elastic piece provided at a front edge of the intermediate wall; and
 wherein the first grounding elastic piece is provided with a plurality of first elastic piece portions protruding into the first mating cavity; the second grounding elastic piece is provided with a plurality of second elastic piece portions protruding into the second receiving cavity;   the third grounding elastic piece is provided with a plurality of third elastic piece portions protruding into the first mating cavity and a plurality of fourth elastic piece portions protruding into the second mating cavity; the fourth grounding elastic piece is provided with a plurality of fifth elastic piece portions protruding into the first mating cavity and a plurality of sixth elastic piece portions protruding into the second mating cavity; the fifth grounding elastic piece is provided with a plurality of seventh elastic piece portions protruding into the first mating cavity and a plurality of eighth elastic piece portions protruding into the second mating cavity; the plurality of first elastic piece portions, the plurality of third elastic piece portions, the plurality of fifth elastic piece portions and the plurality of seventh elastic piece portions are all configured to abut against the first mating connector; the plurality of second elastic piece portions, the plurality of fourth elastic piece portions, the plurality of sixth elastic piece portions and the plurality of eighth elastic piece portions are all configured to abut against the second mating connector.   
     
     
         17 . The connector assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the shielding cage is provided with a first limiting protrusion protruding into the first mating cavity, and a second limiting protrusion protruding into the second mating cavity; the first limiting protrusion is configured to restrict the first mating connector when the first mating connector is inserted into the first mating cavity; the second limiting protrusion is configured to restrict the second mating connector when the second mating connector is inserted into the second mating cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The connector assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the shielding cage further comprises a retaining portion protruding into the first installation cavity; the retaining portion is configured to support the first electrical connector to retain a portion of the first electrical connector that is located in the first installation cavity in the first installation cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The connector assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the shielding cage defines a plurality of heat dissipation holes communicating with the first installation cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The connector assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein each first conductive terminal comprises a first contact arm and a first tail portion; the first contact arm comprises a first contact portion;
 each second conductive terminal comprises a second contact arm and a second tail portion; the second contact arm comprises a second contact portion;   each third conductive terminal comprises a third contact arm and a first mounting foot; the third contact arm comprises a third contact portion;   each fourth conductive terminal comprises a fourth contact arm and a second mounting foot; the fourth contact arm comprises a fourth contact portion;   wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion at least partially protrude into the first receiving slot to electrically contact the first mating connector; the third contact portion and the fourth contact portion at least partially protrude into the second receiving slot to electrically contact the second mating connector; the first mounting foot and the second mounting foot are configured to be electrically connected to the circuit board.